2004 Hyundai Terracan crtdi 2.9 from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Excellent engine+car, shame suspension not up to the job
Faults:
2000 miles 4 months old front and rear suspension faulty, notified dealer. It took dealer 4months to check out and order parts. Found that front and rear suspension bottoming out on the bump stops. Informed Hyundai customer care. The dealer then ordered a pair of rear shocks. Only 1 turned up after 2 weeks, then 2 weeks later the other turned up. Fault was still there. They then ordered a pair of springs and exactly the same happened. This problem has been checked and identified as a problem by the Hyundai product manager and 7 months on still not rectified. I bought this vehicle to tow a caravan weighing 1500kg.Since 2000 miles and 4 months old it can't even carry the driver of the vehicle over a silent policeman at 5mph and not bottom out. Hyundai have had this problem out in Australia and have manufactured a new optional extra suspension kit for people who tow caravan/trailers.So this to me means the original suspension is inadequate for the job they say it can do. I wouldn't have bought this vehicle if I'd have known this about the suspension.
Problems with rear diff. Fault took 6 months to rectify by fitting a new one, no problems since.
Alloy wheel coating coming off all the wheels, Hyundai have Ok'd 4 new wheels and 4 tyres as there was excessive wear on the tyres due to the faulty diff and suspension.
Leather coming off the steering wheel, new steering wheel on order.
Gear knob changed as the gear numbers couldn't be seen and the car only had 8000 miles on the clock.
2 new side steps fitted as there was rust appering on them. They were ordered and fitted within 1 week.
Rear window metal strip by the quarter lights rusted. They were changed within 2 weeks.
Rear boot struts faulty, they were changed within 1 week.
Other niggley faults to top it all.
General Comments:
This 4x4 has got a brilliant engine and quite economical.
The leather seats are great.
Good space in the boot.
Could do with more storage in the boot area for warning triangle and tow rope and tools.
Good clear view of dash board and controls.
Need to put darker grey carpet in the car rather than the light one as it marks easy.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 14th December, 2005
22nd Jun 2007, 15:58
While in Adelaide last October (06) I read a very informative article in an Australian 4x4 magazine which compared the Trek n Tow option unfavourably to an after market alternative. I'm sorry, but I can't recall the name of the magazine or the manufacturer of the after market option, and I had to leave the magazine behind, but I recall that it mentioned the issue with the bump stops. The article implied that Hyundai indicated they considered the bump stops to be a normal part of the suspension travel and that the frequent bottoming out was perfectly normal. The article also inferred that the vehicle itself utilised some previous generation Mitsubishi Shogun technology, and that some after market components are interchangeable. If required, I could always ask the mother in law if she's still reading the magazine in the toilet where I left it...